A Brief Introduction to Commercial Geography; Being a Handbook of the Commercial Relationships of Great Britain, the Colonies and the United States

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900. Excerpt: ... COMMERCIAL GEOGRAPHY OP THE BEITISH EMPIRE AND THE UNITED STATES THE BRITISH ISLES POSITION The British Isles lie to the north-west of Europe, from which they are separated by the English Channel, Straits of Dover, and the North Sea. On the west, the Atlantic Ocean lies between the British Isles and North America. The west coast is thus turned towards the New World, as the east coast is turned towards the Old. The British Islands occupy almost the centre of the Land Hemisphere. They are therefore in the best possible position for carrying on a world-wide commerce. AREA The area of the British Islands is fully 120,000 square miles. Of this England and Wales form about one-half, and Ireland and Scotland each about one-fourth. POPULATION The population of the British Isles is over 40,000,000. England is much more densely peopled than any of the other divisions. The population of Ireland and Scotland in proportion to their size is about four times less than that of England. As a rule, the people of the British Isles are law-abiding, industrious, energetic, and enterprising. Education in the United Kingdom is almost universal, and great improvements have recently been made in the educational system, more attention, in particular, being given to commercial education. The people of Great Britain seem to have a special aptitude for mechanics, and have long led the world in mechanical invention. This power seems to be possessed also, in a large measure, by the people of the United States, who in this respect are no whit behind the people of Great Britain. SURFACE The surface of Great Britain is flat towards the south-east, hilly towards the south-west, and mountainous only in the north and west. Nowhere, however, do the mountains in England present any serious obs...